Council: 'No' to sanctuary law

Mon April 16, 2018 08:55pm

BY CHRISTOPHER OCHOA: The Westminster City Council last week voted to oppose the California Values Act, commonly known as the sanctuary law.

Westminster joined several other cities in Orange County in opposing SB-54, which limits interaction between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials in exacting justice on illegal immigrants. The county has also opposed the law.

Mayor Tri Ta and council members Tyler Diep and Margie Rice voted to support another city’s lawsuit against the state. Councilman Sergio Contreras was opposed and Councilwoman Kimberly Ho was absent.

“We should join the fight against SB-54,” said resident Pam Waldo.

The item went before the City Council after Councilwoman Rice requested it.

Rice opposes the state law and the idea of sanctuary cities.

“I vote to support my constitution,” she said.

Councilman Contreras had a different perspective.

"I cannot in good conscious support this measure to join this lawsuit against The State of California, against SB-54,” he said.

Supporters of the law say local police officers shouldn’t be burdened with enforcing immigration laws, and that many of the federal raids on suspected illegal immigrants are cruel and inhumane.

Opponents of the law say we need to crack down on illegal immigration and support the idea of legal citizenship. They also say the sanctuary law protects criminals.

The Council Chambers was filled. The meeting was shown on a flat-screen TV in the lobby of the chambers to locals who could not get into the meeting because it was over-capacity.

More than 70 people spoke.

"I am for SB-54 and this is an All American city,” said Randy Sanchez.

Many others joined the majority council in opposing the law, which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2018. There were many speakers who supported the law, as well.

Other Orange County cities that have formally opposed the sanctuary law are Los Alamitos, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Mission Viejo, Yorba Linda, Orange and San Juan Capistrano.